Rittenhouse Society Meeting Minutes

BOWERS AND MERENA

GALLERIES, INC.

ty^ur friends in the rare coin business

August 4,1997

Dear Fellow Rittenhouse Society Member:

Please add the following to the membership list you received from Dave
Bowers last month.

Mark Borckardt
c/o Bowers and Merena
P.O. Box 1224
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
Office (603) 569-5095
Fax (603) 569-5319
Home (603) 569-2754

Another American Numismatic Association Convention has come and gone,
and with it another Rittenhouse Society breakfast has concluded. The
breakfast was held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, Saturday,
August 2,1997, at 8:30 a.m.

Those present included Bob Julian, Ed Reiter, Neil Shafer, Dick Johnson,
Mark Borckardt, Denis Loring (and his wife, Donna Levin), Ken Bressett, and
Margo Russell.

The morning started with Bob Julian attempting to stump Donna Levin with
a few brainteasers. This was rather unsuccessful from Bob's perspective. Denis
then casually informed Bob that Donna is a former Jeopardy game show
champion.

Denis and Donna then promptly stumped Bob with an enjoyable little
exercise: Two children were born of the same parents within five minutes of
each other on the same day of the same year. However, they are not twins.
How can this be?

I'll provide the answer a little later in this report.

A brief discussion involved maintaining the Rittenhouse Society
membership. Last year, a proposal was made that new members be
nominated in writing for a vote of the entire Society. As no nominations
were received over the past year, no new members were elected to the Society.
We then repeated the general criteria for new membership: research. Ed
Reiter nominated David Alexander for membership and Bob Julian

BOX 1224 • WOLFEBORO, NH 03894 • (800) 222-5993 • (603) 569-5095 • FAX: (603) 569-531 9

nominated Craig Sholley for membership. Other nominations can be sent to
the undersigned over the next several months.

Margo Russell commented on the possibility of obtaining David Rittenhouse
medals from the Mint and having each member's name engraved on these.

A lively discussion was held concerning the merits of a medal honoring the
numismatic contributions of Walter Breen. The membership present along
with our guest all provided their viewpoints. Dick Johnson suggested that we
table this discussion until next year.

Dick Johnson proposed an arrangement whereby members of the Society
bequeath their personal numismatic archives to a central depository, to be
preserved for future numismatic generations. Tentatively, the ANS was
suggested as the appropriate depository. This assumes that they are willing to
serve in this capacity.

Such archives could be left in paper form or through electronic medium.
Denis Loring, Mark Borckardt, and others encouraged such an arrangement.
The concept for this depository situation is that the Rittenhouse Society
would serve as a conduit between the heirs and the depository once a delivery
was made, the Society would then step out of the picture.

A discussion then ensued regarding the possibility of updating or revising
Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of United States Coins. At this time, it is
not known who actually owns the publication rights to the current work. I
will attempt to find the answer to this and would appreciate hearing from any
other members who might have further information. It was suggested that
the Rittenhouse Society collectively accept the project of revising this work.

The mother of the two children gave birth to triplets.

Any members who wish to comment on the above matters, make their
nominations for membership, or suggest new concerns may do so to the
undersigned c/o Bowers and Merena, Box 1224, Wolfeboro, NH 03894.

Best numismatic regards,

Mark Borckardt

P.S. I am interested in hearing from our members of longer standing than
myself regarding the proceedings of past meetings. I am honored to be a
member of the Rittenhouse Society and wish to record the Society's history
for future generations.